HUGHES: STAY CALM TO AVOID A STORM

There is no need to get panicked in this situation because we do a lot of good things within the group.

“You don’t get too giddy when you are doing well and you don’t get too down when things aren’t going your way.

“The team gets confidence and support from that. We have given them the knowledge they need going into the games.

“They will never say they are lacking in that area.”

Fulham have the worst defensive record in the Premier League after conceding 31 goals in their first 12 games.

But Hughes (top) expects them to be a lot more resolute with new boss Claudio Ranieri in charge.

The Saints boss said: “Claudio is Italian, and you can imagine the work he has been doing with the group. He has a good defensive group there.”

Hughes has been giving his goal-shy squad extra finishing sessions during the international break because they have only scored eight times this season. Winger Nathan Redmond (circle) said: “We have done a lot of finishing drills to gain confidence in front of goal, but also crossing drills.

“It’s not rocket science but creating chances and scoring goals is probably the hardest thing in football.

“It’s not been too bad in training. It can come to a game and you’ll get five chances and you might score one.

“In training, you’d probably score all five.

“It’s difficult in front of 40,000 people every week, but that’s just the nature of the job.”

Saints are currently engaged in an internal review following the sackings of vice-chairman Les Reed and technical director Martin Hunter.

But Hughes insists that has not been a distraction. He added: “I think the players just get on with it. The club is looking to strengthen the areas it feels it needs to.

“But it’s not a case of ripping the template up because there is no need to do that.

“There isn’t a lot that we are doing wrong here.”